Yosemite’s Waterfall Glows Like Fiery Lava In The Evening Sun

Yosemite National Park’s Horsetail Fall flows with spring water from winter until spring. However, during certain evenings in February – if the conditions are just right – the Horsetail Fall appears to glow an orangey-red like a lava fall.

The fiery glow is simply an illusion caused by the sunlight reflecting off the mist of the waterfall. However, you still have to be incredibly lucky to catch this effect. The 300-meter (1,000-foot) waterfall only glows if the light conditions are ideal during a brief window of the sunset. Furthermore, you aren’t even guaranteed water will be flowing to reflect the light.

Yosemite is no stranger to "firefalls." Almost 150 years ago, hotel owners in the park used to chuck burning embers of red fir bark off a ledge near Glacier Point to create the effect of a flaming lava fall. Perhaps by no surprise, the practice was banned by 1968 as it was seen to be an artificial distraction from the natural beauty of the park, The New York Times reports.

Countless photographers have documented the odd beauty of the firefall. It’s even reported that iconic photographer Ansel Adams, who spent many years wandering Yosemite, snapped a firefall in 1940. This year is no different, with crowds of happy snappers lining the park to catch the perfect moment. Here are some of their best works: